Releasable connecting device for a ski

ABSTRACT

A leash connects a skier&#39;&#39;s boot to his ski and has a connector that is releasably held by a holding device. The latter and the connector are so formed that the leash can be released by the skier while remaining erect. A retracting device holds the leash under tension when the ski and boot are connected thereby, and automatically winds it on a spool when the connector is released.

United States Patent 3,448,989 6/1969 Marker.........................280/11.35(CH) [72] Inventor Sidney Rosenthal 36 Southgate Park, Newton, Mass. 02165 FOREIGN PATENTS 752,660 1/1936 Switzerland.,..,. .,....H...

Primary ExaminerBenjamin Hersh Assistant Examiner-Milton L. Smith Attorney-Harold E. Cole [21 Appl. No. [22] Filed Aug. 14, 1968 [45] Patented Feb. 23, 1971 [54] RELEASABLE CONNECTING DEVICE FOR A SKI 2 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

y held by a holding device. The latter and the connector are so formed that the leash can be released by the skier while remaining erect. A retracting device holds the leash under tension when the ski and boot are connected thereby, and automatically winds it on a spool when the connector is released.

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1 4 RELEASABLE CONNECTING DEVICE FOR A SKI The principal object of my invention is to provide improved mechanism that holds a ski to a skier; but can readily be released by a simple movement of a slt'i'pole while the skier remains erect.

Another object is to hold a connector to a holding device by constricting an opening that receives the connector, by a spring member which can, by a single movement be forced out of the opening, thus releasing the connector.

The foregoing and other objects which will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, may be accomplished by a construction, combination and operative arrangement of parts such as is disclosed by the drawing. The nature of the invention is such as to render it susceptible to various changes and modifications, and therefore, I am not to be limited to the construction disclosed by the drawing, nor to the particular parts described in the specification; but am entitied to all such changes therefromas fall'within the scope of my claims.

In the drawing: l

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a ski boot attached to a ski, and my device in operative position connecting said boot and ski.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, sectional view'taken on the line 2-2 of FIG.I. 1

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. I; but showing the connector retained in inoperative position by the holding device, the dash lines showing the connector being moved to operative position.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 2; but taken through the center of FIG; 2.

As illustrated, a ski shoe having theusual sole 12 is attached to a ski 14 by toe and heel attachments I5 and I6. A retracting device 17 has a housing lower section 18 and an upper section 19, the two sections being attached together by screws 20 to provide a single housing. A "cavity 21, communicating with the outside, is provided in the housing to receive actuating parts including a spool 22 around which is a tension spring 24 attached to said housing section 19 by a screw 26, and attached to said spool 22 as by welding 27.

A thimble 28 extends through said spool 22 through which a screw 30 extends and makes screw-threaded attachment in said housing section 18. A leash or-connecting cord 32 is attached to said spool and is mostly wound around the latter in normal or inoperative position.

A connector 34 normally or inoperatively extends partly into said cavity 21 and partly outsidethe'reof as shown in said FIG. 3. It has a reduced or locking portion 36 at an' intermediate portion of its length thus providing two shoulders 37 and 370 at opposite ends. As shown it has a rear member 38 and a front or leading member 39. Said front member 39 has a screw-threaded opening 40 into which enters an exterior screw-threaded extension 41 to connect members 38 and 39 together. An elongate hole 41a through said rear portion 38 receives said leash 32 which is retained within said connector 34 by a knot 43. i

A holding device 44 has a tubular housing 45 having an opening therethrough and a slot or cutout 46 at one side and communicating with said opening, and later referred to.

Said housing 45 is held to said shoe 10, as shown, by one or more screws 50 that extend therethrough and into said shoe sole l2, and which screw also fastensa retaining member 52 that encloses most of said housing 45. A constrictor, shown as a leaf spring 54, is attached to and preferably is a continuation of said retaining member 52 and a'portion normally extends into said cutout 46. Thus said spring 54 enters the latter and bears against said locking portion 36 thus locking the connector 34 in said housing 45 by constricting the opening therein.

Said leaf spring 54 may be forced out of said cutout 46 by hand if desired to free said connector 34. It is easier, however, to insert the tip end of a ski pole between said shoe I4 and said leaf spring 54 to force the latter out of said cutout 46, thus freeing said connector 34, along with its locking portion 36,

from said housinlgl 45. Since said leash 32 is under tension it automatically WI draws said connector 34 from said retaining device 44 when said leaf spring 54 is'moved out of said cutout.

To insert said connector 34 into said retaining device 44 said spring 54 is likewise forced out of said cutout 46, and the connector inserted to a point where said locking portion 36 is opposite said cutout 46 whereupon said spring 54 is released and enters said cutout.

I claim:

I. A connecting device for a ski comprising a retracting device attachable to a ski, a leashhaving an elongate, rodlike connector having a reduced portion intermediate opposite ends thereof, said leash being retractably connected to said device, a holding device attachable to a ski boot embodying a housing having an opening adapted to receive said connector, and a movable constrictor supported, by and exteriorly of said device and normally entering said opening to thereby constrict the latter and hold said connector in said opening, said housing having a cutout extending inwardly from an outer side and communicating with said housing opening, said constrictor being adapted to enter said reduced portion and said cutout.

2. A connecting device as of claim I, said constrictor being resilient and being movably awayfrom said housing opening when pressure is applied to it, said holding device having a retainer attached to and partly enclosing said housing, said constrictor being attached to and extending upwardly from said retainer in positionof use. v 

1. A connecting device for a ski comprising a retracting device attachable to a ski, a leash having an elongate, rodlike connector having a reduced portion intermediate opposite ends thereof, said leash being retractably connected to said device, a holding device attachable to a ski boot embodying a housing having an opening adapted to receive said connector, and a movable constrictor supported by and exteriorly of said device and normally entering said opening to thereby constrict the latter and hold said connector in said opening, said housing having a cutout extending inwardly from an outer side and communicating with said housing opening, said constrictor being adapted to enter said reduced portion and said cutout.
 2. A connecting device as of claim 1, said constrictor being resilient and being movably away from said housing opening when pressure is applied to it, said holding device having a retainer attached to and partly enclosing said housing, said constrictor being attached to and extending upwardly from said retainer in position of use. 